U.S. consumers spent $27.9B on wine in 2007

Overall wine drinking in the United States rose 3.2 percent in 2007 to 292.1 million 9-liter cases, according to the Beverage Information Group

It was the 14th consecutive year of gains.

Consumer spending on wines from shiraz to chardonnay is not slowing, either. Wine retail dollars totaled $27.9 billion last year, according to the group’s recently-released 2008 Wine Handbook.

"If wine continues to grow at these levels, the U.S. will surpass both Italy and France to become both the largest wine market and biggest wine importer in the world by the end of the decade," said Eric Schmidt, manager of information services for the Norwalk, Conn.-based Beverage Information Group.

Boxed wine is experiencing a resurgence in the U.S., being used for both premium wines and traditional bulk wines of lesser quality. Target’s Wine Cube, produced by Trinchero Family Estates, and premium Black Box Wines from Constellation Wines are two examples.